Apparatus for fighting fires.



v I G MORTON APPARATUS FOR FIGHTING FIRES.

. APPLICATION FILED APILZO, 1904. 966,346, Patented Aug. 2, 1910.

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P. o. MORTON. APPARATUS FOR FIGHTING FIRES.

APPLIOATION FILED APR.20, 1904.

- Patented Aug. 2, 1910.

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, {amen-Io?FILED-51:11.20,100 Patnted Aug-2,1910

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APPLICATION FILED AIILZO, 1904. 966,346. I Patented Aug. 2, 1910.

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- APPARATUS FOR FIGHTING FIRES.

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' Patented Aug. 2,- 1910.

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F. G. MORTON. APPARATUS FOR FIGHTING FIRES.

APPLICATION FILED APR.20, 1904. 966,346. 4 Patented Aug. 2, 1910 12 snnm's-snnn'r 12.

substantially horizontal and vertical direc- UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FREDEBIC G. IDIIOLRIIOIBT, 0F CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO WILLIAM E. BRAND, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

APPARATUS FOR FIGHTING FIRES.

To czzanom a may tam-em.-

Be'itknown that I, F REBERIO C. MOR ON,

use at fires in cities having high buildings.

The apparatus referred to, may and preferablywill bej providedwith an aeriaLladder,

a water tower' a working tower for firemen,

and a' 'firees'capeyallj of which arecombined in a; -'ma a;eras will be described to foim'an eflective piece of apparatus for fig htingfi'res.

For this'purposie the working parts of the apparatus ai*e carried by a vehicle, iwhie h may befdrawi'i" by hfors'es or otherwise propelled, thebo'dy of the vehicle'being prefer ablyv made of metal, such "as channel iron beams. The body of thej ve'hicle has pivotallyfsecured'to it atits front endfan exten- "sible support for-an extensibleladder, which latter may and preferably will be comlposed of sections laterally arrangedfwith re ation to each' other, so that-each laddersection may'be used by the firemen and raised and lowered-while so used, without danger of injury to the firemen. The extensible support forthd'extensible ladder, may be operated by power supplied from a" suitable source carried by. the"vehicle, and provision is made for turningtlie, support onits pivot so as to raise and lower the same and also for simul-' taneously elongating said "support and the sections of the extensible ladder. The sec T tions .or individual ladders comprising the extensible ladder, may be provided with platforms, and the uppermost section of the extensible support may have secured to it a working-platform, which may be capable of a tilting movement for a purpose as will be described, and which may have secured-to it a nozzle in referably capable of turning tions and which is connected by a flexible hose with a rigid pipe attached to the lower most section of the extensible support. The Working platform may also'support a bridge or runway which is adapted to span Specification of Letters Patent.

, Application filed April 20, 1904. Serial No. 204,015.

Patented Aug. 2 1910.

space between the said platform and a building, and said bridge may be provided with an extension or auxiliary brldge which is detachabl secured to the main bridge. The main bri ge may be ivotally su' ported to move in a substantiali horizonta l plane, so as to enable it to be a justed to the portion of the building desired, as will be described. The Workin platform may be provided with means or lowerin to the ground persons rescued from the building. Provision is made for bracing the vehicle laterally to support the apparatus in its raised position. Other features of this invention will be pointed out in the claims at the end of this specification. Figure 1 is a embodying this lnvention. Fig. 2, a side elevation of theapparatus shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3, a. plan view of the apparatus with parts omitted. Fig. 4;, a side elevation ofjthe apparatus shownin Fig; Fig. 5, a detail on an -enlarged scale to I lan view of an apparatusv e referred to. F igs.

6 and 7, details in side elevation to illustrate the operation of the apparatus. Figs. 8 and 9, details. to be refeffred to, Fig.10, a slde elevation ofthe apparatus in its extended operative position. Fig. 11, a front elevation 'of .the apparatus in its extended operative position. Fig. 12, a rear ,elevation on an enlarged scale of the apparatus' in its lowered position. Fig. 13, a crosssection on an enlarged scale taken on the line 13-13, Fig.2. Fig. 1ft, a cross-section- 'on anenlarged scale taken on the line'14- 14, Fig. 2. Figs. 15 and 16, details in plan and side elevation on an enlarged". scale of the working platform to be referred to.

Fig; 17, aside elevation of the wo'rlfingplatformlooking toward the left in Fig. 16.

F igs. 17 and 17*, details to be referred .to. Figs. 18, 19, 20 and 21, details on an'enlarged scale of the bridge and ladder to be referred to. Figs. 22, 23 and 23, details of the bridge to be referred to. Fig. 24, a vertical section ofthe telescopic plunger in its extended position and on an enlarged scale. Figs. 25, 26 and 27, details of the nozzle carried by the working platform. Fig. 28, a cross-section on the ine -2828,

Fig. 24. Fig. 29-, a cross-section on the line 2929, Fig. 24. Figs. 30 and 31, details of the drum and friction braketherefor to be referred to, Fig. 31 being a section on the line 31--31, Fi 30. Fig. 32, a detail of the ladders in t eir extended or o erative position. Figs. 33 and 34, detai s of the ladder platforms. Fig. 35, a sectional detail to be referred to, and Fig. 36, a diagrammatic view to illustrate the operation of the apparatus.

Referrin to Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive, a represents the ody portion of a vehicle mounted upon a front axle b and a rear axle 0, each provided with wheels (1. The front axle b is provided as shown with a pole e, and is capable of being turned in the usual manner. The rear axle c is also capable of being turned by asteersman operatmg a 7 wheel I detachably aflixed on an upright shaft g supported above the body a and connected by suitable mechanism with the rear axle c. The said mechanism may be of any desirable or suitable construction, and as herein shown consists of the shaft 9 sup-.

. ported by a platform It for the steersman (see Figs. 1 and 13) and by a bracket i at tached to an upright wall of the platform h, which latter is supported by the body a of the vehicle'and projects laterally therefrom as shown in Fig. 13. The'shaft g is provided with a s rocket wheel 7', which is connected by a link chain In with a s rocket wheel I. on a second shaft m (see igs. 1 and 2). The shaft m is provided at its lower end with a pinion n, which meshes with a segmental gear 0, attached to a cross .bar p supported from the rear axle c by the sprin s g. The cross bar p is pivotally connect by the bolt or pin 1- with a cross bar 8 forming part of the body of the vehicle.

The hand wheel 1 may have a square socket to fit the square end of the shaft g.

The body a of the vehicle may be made of metal, preferabl channel iron, to obtain strengthand lig tness. The bed a carries preferably a, plurality. of ladders 40, 41, 42,

which coiiperate to form an extension ladder and whichare secured to a suitable support carried. by said vehicle. The support for the ladders 40, 41, 42, may and preferably will beextensible and comprises in the present instance three parts or sections 43, 44, 45

(see Fi I10, 11, and 24), which may be made tu 'ular in form and adapted to telescope one within the other.

The extensible support for the ladders which will be hereinafter designated the support, is pivotally connected with the body a of the vehicle, so that the said su port with its attached ladders may e turned from a substantially horizontal posi-' tion, shown in Fi 1 and 2, into a substantially vertical positionshown in Fig. -7. ,In the present instance, the "support for the ladders is shown as pivoted-to the front end of the vehicle, and for this purpose, the

larger section of the sup ort may be provided wit a cap or head 46 see Figs. 2 and 24) I which having oneor more lugs 47, through which are extended the pivot pin or shaft 48, which is supported by the side bars of the vehicle body. The support is adapted to be turned from a substantially horizontal position shown in Figs. 1 and 2, into a substantially vertical position shown in Figs. 6 and 7, and for this purpose, the cap or head 46 may be provided at opposite sides of the said support, with crank brackets or arms 49, which are joined by connecting rods 50 with a cross head 51 which moves in; suitable guide bars or pieces 52 attached to the underside of the vehicle body. Thesupport may be extended from the position shown in Fig. 2 to that shown in Fig. 11, by an actuating device which is power operated. The

actuating device referred to, may and preferably will be made as herein shown and consists of a telescopic plunger comprising in the present instance three tubular sections 54, 55, 56 (see Fig. 24) located within corresponding sections of the support. The lowermost section 54 of the plunger is secured to the cap or head 46 and the outermost section 56 is secured to a head 57 fastened to the outermost section 45 of the support. The plunger is closed at its outer end and is open at its inneror lowerend,

supply, to be described, through a .pipe 58 (see Fig. 24) connected with. an annular chamber 59 within the hollow boss 47. The chamber 59 communicates through a port 60 with the interior of the hollow shaft or pivot pin 48. Suitable packing not herein shown is provided to render fluid tight, the joint between the hollow boss47 and the hollow pivot shaft or pin 48. The section members or parts of the telescopic plunger may. be. supported centrally wlthin the extensible support by suitable guides,-herein shown as communicates with a source of fluid disks or spiders 61, 62, the disk 61 being attached to the bottom of the intermediate section44 of the support, and the disk 62' attached to the intermediate section 55 of the plunger near its top (see Fig. 24). Provision is made for preventing the outermost and intermediate sections of the support from rotating or turning and this may be accomplished as herein s own, by keys 64, 65 attached to the lowermost and intermediate sections 43, 44 of the support, which engage suitable notches-in bottom flanges 66,

67 on the intermediate and outermostsec tions 44, 45 of the su port; 1

The'disk 61 is attac ed to theintermediate section 44 0f thesupport and slides on the lowermost section .54 of the plunger, and

the disk 62 attachedto the intermediate section 55 of the j'plun er slides within. the

' outermost section 45 o the support. It will thus be seen that the movable sections of the extensible support.

plungerare centrally supported within the support as shown in fastened to abracket 72 which is riveted orotherwise secured to the stationary section 43 of the support, and which cooperates with a second bracket 73 likewise secured to said support. The brackets 72, 73 extend substantially the length of the stationary Fig. 32 and are proyided with ribs 74 forming guideways or grooves in which slide lugs 75 attached to the sides of the intermediate ladder 41 at or near its lower end, the said intermediate ladder being suitably fastened at or near its PP the support. The intermediate ladder has secure to itsiside remote from the station- -ary ladder 40, a guideway 7 6 which extends may at or'near its lower end'.

substantially the length of the ladder, .and in which slidesa guide, lug or arm 77 (see Fig. 35) attached toone side of the ladder 42 The ladder 42 is connected with the outermost section 45 of the support soias 'to move therewith, and

this may be accomplished. as herein shown,

by pivotally connecting the upper end of the ladder 42 with a large platform 79 which v be designated a working-platform, which is secured as will be descrlbed to the outermost section 45 of the support. of the ladders. may be provided at its lower end with a platform 80, which may and referably will have a slidingengagement with the ladder, which may be accomplished as shown in Figs. 33, 34, by providing each of the platforms on its rear side with slotted metal pieces 81, which engage substantially T-shaped metal bars 82 secured to the sides of the ladder. Themetal bars 82 are provided at, their opposite ends with lugs or projections 83 which form stops to limit the movement of the platform longitudinally of the ladder. The platform may bepro vided with a railing 84 on its front and one side, so as to leave one side of the platform open, for the passage of a fireman or other erson onto an adjacent ladder: The working-platform 79 is made large enough, so as to afford opportunity for a number. of firemen to work thereon, and platform may and preferably will be pivotally connected to the top of the section 45 of the support for the ladders.

In the present instance, the section- 45 of the support is provided with a cap plate or piece 86 (see Figs.

tended, and

Referring to Figs. 32'

.. bracket or arm 96 er end to the intermediate section 44 of the pin 88 as a center.

a horizontal plane, Each ried b a lug or arm I beyond the work1ng-platform said working 16 and 17) having lugs I or ears 87 through which are extended a pivot pin 88 supported by the floor ironsor beams of the platform 79.

The platform side aplate or bar 89 provided with end flanges 90 through which the pivot pin is exwhich form bearings for the pivot pin. The platform 79 i s adapted to be tilted in a vertical direction and this-tilting action may be effected byjmechanism such as herein shown and Which'consists of a rotatable shaft or spindle91 provided with a threaded socket 92 (see Fig. 16), into which extends a threaded rod 93 joined by a link 94 to a lug 95 on the cap plate 86. The shaft or spindle 91 is rotatably supported in a to a center post or standard 97, riveted or otherwise fastened'tothe upper surface of the floor'of the platform 79. The shaft or spindle 91 is provided as shown with a hand wheel 98, by threaded rod 93 is moved into or out of its socket and the platform The platform 79-is thus capable of being adjusted, so that it can be maintained substantially horizontal when in its elevated position... The upright post 97 constitutes a pivotal support for a ridge or runway 100, which may be made 79 has secured to its underwhich 1s suitably fastened 7 turning which the thereby tilted on I as hereinshown and comprises a bottom and side pieces (see Fig. 23). The bridge 100 has depending from itat or near one .end a socketed hub or b.oss 101 which ishdesigned 'to'be fitted over the upperi end of the post 97 so asto turn thereon, thereby permitting the bridge to'be moved in a circular path in and enabling it to be.

adjusted with relation to the building in which a fire occurs, so as to bring the bridge opposite or in line with a window i sired. Provision is made for locking the bridge in a fixed position with relation to the u right or post 97, which-may be ac comp ished, as herein shown (see Figs. 22 and 23), by a spring-actuated bolt 102 car- 103 on the'hub or boss 101 o the bridge and adapted to enter one of a series of holes 104 in a circular plate or flange 105 fastened to the post or upright 97. The bridge 100 is designed to project and to reach in some instances to the roof 'as represented in Fig. 11, or it may. be to a window of the building, thereby affording means of escape from the building to the working platform. The free .end of the bridge 100 may be supported by rods or bars 107 connected to the underside of the bridge at one end, and to the hub or boss 101 at the other end as instances the bridge 100 may not be sufficiently long to reach the building, and in this case, an extension or auxiliary bridge 108 is provided, (see Fig. 8) which may be sht wn in Fig. 23. In some 105. f deof a building supported b scribed. 100 is pro stantially y the main bridge as will be de- 1124 are adapted to en age a in or button orthis purpose, the main brid e 130 on a side iece of t e lad er.

vided on its underside with su v The rod or ar 122 may be adjustably con- U-shaped hangers 109 (see Figs. nected with a side'of the bridge 100, which 18 and 23) between which and the bottom may be accomplished as herein shown (see of the bridge at its outer en upturned in is inserted a bar 110 provided Figs. 19 and 21) and for this purpose'the d with a cross bar 112 having said rod or bar is connected with a sliding gs or arms 113 which are adaptblock 131 movable in a suitable uideway ed to engage the sides of the auxiliary bridge 132 attached to the side of the bri ge; The as shown in Fig. 8. The bar 110 is made of sliding block 131 carries a pawl 133 which sufficient 1 to enga ength to cause the cross bar 112 is des1 ed toengage a ratchet 134 attached ethe bottom of the auxiliary bridge, to sai guideway. The pawl 133 may be prefera 1y beyond the longitudinal center provided with a finger or arm 135 b which of said auxiliary bridge. Provision is also the said awl may be disengaged om its made for sup from the from porting a short ladder 114 ratchet wlth which it is held in engagement t of the 'brid e 100, and for by the spring 137. Suitable stops, shown as i this purpose, the bottom 0 said bridge is pins 138 are carried by the gu1deway at or provlded with two rounded or cup-shaped near its opposite ends'to liimt the movement sockets or depressions 115 (see Fig. 18) of the sli into which the lower ends of the side pieces 114 may be inserted, and I rescued from a burnin buildingto may be turned to adjust ered to the round with safety and expe- Provision is made for ditiously, an I to this end, the working plat- 4 to the bridge and this form is provided with trap doors 140, 141 d as herein shown (see at op os te sides of the platform near one of latches 116 pivotally end, see Fig. 15) and is further rovided of the short ladder in which the ladder it to the buildi locking the lad may be accomplishe Fig. 18) by means secured to the sides of the ladder and pro with a sheave or pulley 142 mount to turn vided with projections or studs 117, which in a frame 143 having a stem or shank 144, are forced by springs 118into suitable holes which is inserted into a hollow post 145 or openings in the inner side wall of the forming oneof a series of upright supports 5 sockets as clearl The latches the bridge by engaged positi y represented in Fig. 18. for a railing 146 extended around the plat- 116. may be disengaged from form. The hollow posts 145 are arranged hand, and held in their disadjacent to and preferably in the same plane on by supplementary latches with the trap doors 140, 141, so that the perbe lowered through the 00 of the-ladder and adapted to engage the tail opening normally covered by the trap doors, pieces of the main latches, with which they by means of a rope or cable 147 which is are held in engagement by springs until 1 passed over the sheave or piflley 142 and is positively released by hand. The latches provided with a hook or other device 148,

116. serve to lock the lower end of the ladder which may be engaged with a belt or other 105 to the bridg interfere W1 ladder. The designed tor in use, ladder from b ward toward the" brace is provided the ladder interm is preferabl .scr1bed;'

The holdin as herein sh and consists with a fixed j a movable ja g device or brace may be made Fig. 2). The c own (see Figs. 19, 20 and 21) the drum by'hand, and unwound by the a rod or bar 122 provided weight of the person being lowered. Proaw 123, with which cooperates vision, is made for preventing the person 120 w 124 carried by the rodor baniwbeing lowered at an excessive speed, and to e, yet insuch' manner as not to suitable harness applied to the erson to be h the pivotal movement, of the lowered, especially when in a isabledconupper end of the ladder 114 is ditlon. The rope or cable 147 has its 0 poest against the buildin when site end attached to adrum 149 carri' by' prevent the 11 per en of the the vehicle '(see Fig. 2), and u on which the 110 accidenta ly moved backsaid cable is normally woun The drum ridge, a holding device or ,149 is fast on a shaft 150 (see Fig. 30) havwhich engages the side of ing hearings in uprights 151, 152 attached ediate its ends, and which to a stationary 1Fart of the vehicle, herein y made adjustable as will be de-' shown as a we I of a case 153 depending 1'15 from the rear pprtion of the vehicle (see a le 147 may be wound upon 122 and no mally moved toward the fixed this end, a friction brake is provided, which .jaw 123 shank lugs 1 126 s] sho fireman when it is desired torelease the ladder from the holding device. The jaws 123,

by a spring 125, which'encircles the 1s automatically brought into action when 126 of the movable jaw between the the s eed of thedrum exceeds a predeter- 27 on the rod orbar 122. The shank .mine point. j

ides in the lugs 127 and is provided as One form of friction brake is shown in with a bent end or finger iece 128, Fig. 30, wherein the drum is shown as havwhich is designed to be graspe by the ing pivoted to its 1nner c1rcumferenceelbow levers 154 having weights 155 on their long I arms which are connected by a helical spring 156, the short arms1 57 of said levers engaging a flange 158 on a sleeve or hub 159,

151. The shaft 150 has mounted on it be-. tween the drum 149 and thebearing 152, a plurality of disks 160, 161, alternate disks 160 being keyed to slide on the shaft 150 and the disks 161 being loose on the said shaft to move longitudinally thereon, but restrained from rotation by engagement with a fixed key 162 on the support or case 153. In practice the drum 149 is preferably provded with two sets of levers 154 located on opposite sides of the shaft. In operation, when a erson is attached to the upper free end of t e rope and is lowered by gravity, the rope is unwound from the drum, and 1f the speed at which the drum turns exceeds a predetermined point, the weighted levers move the drum and shaft longitudinally in i the direction indicated by the arrow 163,

Fig. 30, thereby causing frictional resistance tothe rotation of the drum, .between the drum and disks 160, 161, which resistance retards the drum in its rotation and thereby prevents it from rotating at a materially greater speed. Provision is also made'for keeping the rope'taut under normal conditions, which may be efl'ected by a substantially light spring 164 encircling the shaft 150 between the sleeve 159 and the hub 165 of the drum. In practice, the rope 147 will, be made of a length equal in amount to several times the height of the platform from the ground, so that a number of persons may be consecutively lowered without the necessity of rewinding the rope, said rope being provided at suitable intervals with suitable devices, such as rings or links for attachment of the persons to be lowered.

The sheave or pulley 142 is kept in its.

proper position with relation to the trap door in the Working platform in any suitable manner, and in the presentinstance the spindle 144 of the frame in which the pulle is mounted, is provided with an arm 167 having a pin 168 (see Fig. 17), which extends through an opening 169 in the top rail of the platform. r

The working platform 79 may be provided with a stand pipe 170 having a nozzle 171 movably attached to it and capable of being turned in a substantially vertical and horizontal plane. made as herein shown and comprises the nozzle proper havinga laterally projecting hub 172 (see Figs. 26 and 27) which fits int-o a lateral o ening in a vertically arranged section "1 3, which'latter'is fitted to turn or rotateon the upper end of the stand moves the nozzle in a substantially horizon- The nozzle 171' may be tal plane. The vertical, section 173 of the nozzle is provided as shown with a flange 1174 which rests upona flange .175 on t e stand-pipe, a spring washer 176 being in- I terposed between said flanges. The vertical section 173 is secured to the stand-pipe by a sectional ring 177, which is secured to the flange175 by bolts 178 or otherwise. The nozzle proper 171 is secured to the vertical section 173 by a shaft or,pin 179 having a.- head'lSO Which engages the nozzle 171, the said shaft or pin being secured to the section 173 'by'a key 181 (see Fig. 26). The shaft or pin 179 is encircled by a sprlng 182, which maintains the nozzle 1n enga ement with the head 180 of the shaftor pm 179, with suflicient friction to keep the nozzle in thevposition into which it may be turned or adjusted.

By reference to Fig. 26, it will be seen that the water pressure also serves to create friction between the nozzle and the head of the pin 179 and also between the flange 174 and the ring 177. The hub of the nozzle 171 may be provided with one or more socketedvertical direction. The nozzle 171 is bent or curved so that its discharge or outlet end is in line with the center on which the nozzle turns either in a horizontal or vertical di-' substantially horizontal section which is located beneath the latform and suitably secured thereto, sai horizontal portion having a T-coupling 185 (see Fig. 17 which is mounted to turn thereon and with which is detachably connected one end of a flexible pipe or hose, 186, the other end of which is detachably connected to a like coupling 187 on one end of a rigid pipe 188 (see Figs. 3 and 4), which is affixed to the lower section 43. of the extensible support for the ladders. The rigid pipe 188 is provided at its opposite end wlth a T-coupling 189 mounted to turn thereon, and which is connected by a flexible pipe or hose (not shown) 7 with a hydrant or fire engine (not shown).

Provision is made for supporting the flexible hose 186 when the apparatus is in its normal or lowered position, and for this purpose, the vehicle body a has attached-to its side below the rigid pipe 188 a trou h or receptacle 190 extended 'engthwlse 0 the vehicle, said trough being open at its top bottom layer, the latter being connected with the stand-pipe on the working platder 195, which maybe designated the ,elevat-.

3 nected with the telescopic plunger to supply rovision is made for re-' turning the'oil or liquid from the telescopic i is provided with valves 204, 205.

{liquid thereto and to be moved into its operative. position by. power operated mechanism carried by the vehicle. This mechanism may and preferably will be such as shown in the diagrammatic view Fig. 36, a portion only of the mechanism shown in Fig. 36 being shown in Fig. 2, to avoid confusion in the drawings. Referring toFigs. 2 and 36, the pivoted section 43 of the extensible support is connected by the. cranks or'arms 49 and connecting rods or bars 50 with the sliding cross head 51, to which isjoined the piston rod 193 of a piston 194recinrocating in a cylining cylinder; The cylinder 195' is connected witha source of liquid supply, shown as a tank or reservoir 196, from*iwhich oil or other incompressible liquid is withdrawn by a pump 197 and forced into the cylinder 195 under conditions as will be described. The

pump 197 is driven by an engine 198 opera-ted by compressed air'contained in a reservoir or tank 199. The pump 197 .is conplunger to the reservoir 196.. Hand operated valves are provided for positively controlling the operation of the pump and engine, and automatic valves are likewise provided to safeguard the apparatus. I

In Fig. 36, I have shown one arrangement of pipes, valves, and apparatus, which I may prefer, and which will now be de scribed more in detail. The air" reservoir 199 has an inlet pipe 200 provided with a valve 201, and has an outlet pipe 202, which is connected'with the engine 198, thelatter having an exhaust pipe 203. The ipe 202 e pump 197' has its suction side connected by the pipe 206 with the bottom of the liquid reservoir 196 and has its discharge side provided with an outlet pipe 207, which is connected to one end of a cylinder 208 and connected by the pipe 209 with a valve casing 210 which is connected by the pipe 212 with the liquid supply tank. The pump 197 is also connected with the telescopic lunger by a 'ipe 214, valve casing 215 an pipe 216, w ich letter represents the hollow pivot 48 and pipe 58, shown in Fig. 24. The valve casing 215 is connected by the pipe 217 to the outlet'pipe206 for thetank 196. The valve casing 215 is provided with afour-way valve 219,,which, when turned in one position, connects the pump with the telescopic plunger, and in another position with the tank 196. The valvecasing 210 is provided with a four-way valve 220, which when.

turned into one position connects the pump with one side of the elevating cylinder 195 and the other side of said cyhnder with the liquid tank 196. The cylinder 208 of the relief valve is connected by the ipe 221 with the pipe 217. leading to the liquid supply tank. The extensible plunger is connected with the supply tank by a pipe 222, casing 220 of double relief valve and pipes 224, 217.

' The cylinder 208 contains a piston valve 225 normally forced toward the liquid inlet end of the c linder by a spring 226 which encircles the piston rod 227, the latter being extended outside of the cylinder and joined by a link 228 ,to'one end of a lever 229 pivoted at 230 and having its opposite end connected by a link 231 with a crankpr arm 232 on the valve 204 located in the plpe 202. The valve 205 in the pipe 202 is normally closed and has a handle .234. The cas ing 210 of the four-way valve 220 is connected by, the pipes 236, 237 with the casing 240 of a double relief valve, the casing 240 being divided into two compartments 241, 242 by a partition wall 243 having twoports the s rings 246, 247. The casing 223 of the doub e relief valve connected with the tele scopic plunger is divided by the partition wall 250 into two chambers 251, 252, the saidpartition wall having ports or openings normally closed by the oppositely working valves 253, 254, which are normally seated by the sprmgs The cylinder 208 of the relief or openings whlch are normally closed by -valves 244, 245 located on opposite sides of said partition wall'and normally seated by valve, its outlet pipe 221, and the pipe 217 form a byass for the pump, \so that the latter may e started in operation without affecting the apparatus.

The operation of the elevating and extensible mechanism may bebriefly described as follows: Assume the apparatus in the condition or position representedin Figs. 1 and 2. In this condition, the valve 205 is closed, the valve 204 is open, and the valves 219,220 may be in the positions shown. The engine 198 ;may be started in operation while the apparatus is going to a fire or as soon as it arrives there, by opening the valve 205, which admits compressed air into the engine and sets it in motion. The engine starts the pump 197 in operation, which draws liquid from thetank 196 and discharges it through the pipe 207. With the valves 219, 220 in the position shown, the liquid enters the cylinder 208 of the relief valve 225 and forces the latter-backwarduntil the outlet pipe 221 is uncovered, whereupon the liquid forced into the cylinder 208 flows therefrom through the pipes 221, 217 into the inlet pipe 206 for the pump, and theliquid is thus circulated without doing work. As the piston valve 225 is moved backward, it operates through the piston rod 227, link228,

lever 229, link 231 and crank or arm 232 to partially close the valve 204, which hasthe effect of slowing downthe-engine. Assume that the vehicle has been placed in proper position with relation to the building on fire, which may be with the vehicle backed up against the sidewalk as rep-resented in Fig. 10 or arranged alongside said sidewalk as represented in Flg. 11. Assume also that it is desired to elevate the ladders .and extend them to their fullest extent as represented in Fig. 11. To this end, the valve 220 is turned so as to connect the pipe 209 with the pipe 236, which connects the pump197 with the cylinder 195 .and fluidis forced by the pump through the pipes 207, 209 through the valve 220, pipe 236, chamber 242 and pipe 260 into the cylinder 195 behind the piston 194, which is thereby vmoved'in the direction indicated by the armoves the movable sections of the plunger 'and supportuntil further movement is arrested by the stops 70, 71. The valves 219, 220 may then be closed, or they may be left in the position just described, and in either case, the pump may continue to run, for as soon as the telescoping plunger and extensible support have reached the limit of their outward or upward movement, the relief valve 225 is operated by the fluid pressure to open the by-pass'referred to, and to throt;

tie the supply of compressed air.

I prefer to close the valves'219, 220, and when so closed, it will be seen that the ex- .tensible support andthe parts attached to and supported by it, are held in their elevated position by a body of liquid which is locked in the cylinder 195 behind the piston 194 when the valve 220 is in its closed position. It will also be seen that the extensible plunger is filled with an incompressible body of. liquid, which is locked therein when the valve 219 is in its closed position. The valve 220 controls the position of the extensible support, which may be turned from the horizontal position shown in Fig. 2 into a vertical position shown in Fig. 7, or it between the horizontal and vertical posi tions, for instance as represented in Figs. 6 and 10, and in either of these positions said support may be held by closing the valve 220. The telescopic plunger may be moved from its nested position shown in Fig. 7 to that shown inFig. 11, by opening the valve 219 and connecting the plunger. with the pump. The extensible plunger and the parts movable with it may be lowered by turning the valve 219 so as to connect the plunger with the pipe 217 which leads back to the supply tank, and it is evident that by manipulating the valve 219 the extensible lunger may be moved so as to'place the working parts movable with said plunger in any desired position with relation to the burning building.

The apparatus when nested as represented in Fig. 7 may be lowered into the position shown in Fig. 2, by turning the valve 220- into the position shown in ,Fig. 36, so that the liquid is forced by the pump into the cylinder 195 through the pipe 264 and the piston is thereby moved toward the right in said cylinder, the fluid in front of the cylinder in this case being forced .backinto the supply tank through the pipes 260, 236, 212. The double safety valve connected with the elevating cylinder, safeguards the said cylin-.

der, and the pipes connected therewith against injury in case the valve 220 should be closed too rapidly or accidentally closed;

The valve 245 is opened by the increased pressure when the piston 194 is moving in the direction indicated by the arrow 261,

thereby permitting the fluid in the chamber 241 to pass into the chamber 242, from which it passes through the pipe 260into the cylinder behind the piston. The valve 244 is opened by the increased pressure when the piston 194 is moving in the direction opposite to that indi'cated'by the arrow 261. The spring-actuatedrelief valves 225, 244, 245 and 253 are designed to be brought into operation only when the pressure is considerably greater than mal operations. 0

The double relief valve in the casing 223 safeguards the extensible plunger. For instance, if the valve 219 be suddenly closed while the plunger is descending, the increased fluid pressure would open the valve 253 and allow'the liquid to flowback to the pump. If the valve 219 should accidentally be closed while the plunger is moving outward or upward, the relief valve 254 would be opened to permit the flow of liquid from the supply tank into the plunger, the spring 256 for this particular valve being sufficiently light to be overcome by the suction created by the movement of the plunger due to momentum.

The extensible plunger is provided with that necessary for nor-- may be turned into any angular position l v self-contained safety-devices for preventing injury to the plunger when the latter is shown (see Fig. 36) and consist of a block 269 provided with two cones 270, 271 which are designed to fit into the intermediate and smallest sections of the plunger, which sectionsare provided with stops or projections 272, 273 designed to bottom on the block and leave spaces between the block and the in termediate and innermost sections of the plunger, which form with the spaces between the sides of the cones and the sections 55, 56 a passage, which leads into the innermost section, with which the pipe 216 communicates. hen the stops 272, 273 are in proximity to the block 269, the passageway for the liquid from the space beneath the movable-sections is gradually restricted, thereby cushioning the descent of the movable sections, which cushioning action is progressive and gradually becomes greater and greater toward the end until the stops engage the block. The upper safety devices consist of conical sleeves 27 6, 277 attached to the heads of the stationary and intermediate sections,

which cooperate with ports or openings 27 8,

27 9 in the intermediate and innermost sections 56, 55. The ports 278, 279 permit the escape of liquid imprisoned between the stationary and intermediate sections and between the intermediate and innermost section, when the movable sections of the plunger are rising or. being extended. During the major part of their stroke, the fluid escapes freely through the ports 278, 279, but when the said ports approach the conical sleeves 276, 277, the escape of fluid begins to be restricted and as the sections 56,55 reach substantially the end of their outward movement, the escape of liquid through the'said ports is choked, and themovable sections are thereby cushioned and gradually brought to rest, thus avoiding injuryto the plunger by a sudden stop. 7

It will ,be understood, that the whole system of pipes, cylinders and pumps are normally full of liquid, and that no air-chambers are formed in the system and no cushioning or vibratory effects due to air in .the system, with the exception of the airchamber in the liquid supply tank, which latter is provided With an air vent 200 (see Fig. 36).

Provision is made for obtaining a wide support or foundation for the apparatus in its elevated position. To this end, the

vehicle has pivotally secured to its opposite sides near its front end, swing arms 281, each of which is mounted to turn on a vertical axis 282 carried by the vehicle. The swing arms 281 are normallyturned into a substantially at right angles tothe body of the vehicle. The swing arms may be locked in their opened or closed positions by suitable. means, such as a spring latch or bolt 283 similar to that shown in Fig. 22, which is adapted to enter one of a series of holes 284 in a quadrant plate 285 extended from the sides of the vehicle (see Fig. 1).

The swing arms 281 may be provided at their outer ends with threaded holes or openings which are engaged by threaded rods or screws 286, each carrying a handwheel 287 and connected at their lower end to a foot block or plate 288, which is adapted to restupon the ground, the said screw. and plate being connected by a universal joint, such as a ball and socket of any usual construction, which permits the foot block or plate 288 to adjust itself to the ground or other solid foundation.

The screws 286 may be turned 'so as to lift the weight of the front end of the vehicle from the front wheels, so that the whole weight of the vehiclecand its apparatus rests substantially on the points ar-.

ranged in the form of a T, namely, the two tion 43 of the extensible support, so that when the said support is in its lowered position shown in Fig. 2, the pivoted ladder section 290 may be thrown back upon the intermediate ladder as represented in Fig. 13. On arriving at a fire, the steersman removes the steering wheel 7 from the spindle or shaft g and then turns the ladder section 290 so that it alines with and forms a'continuation of the lowermost ladder 40, in

which position it is preferably automatically locked in any suitable manner. In the pres 'ent instance, the ladder section 290 is represented in Fig. 13 as provided with an arm 293 which engages a pivoted dog or latch 25% carried by the section 43 of the extensible support.

The working-platform may and-prefer ably will be provided with a guard for each of the trap doors in its floors. In the present instance, I have shown in Fig. 15 a guard for only one of saidtrap-doors. The

"guard may be of any suitable or desired sci ' foot plates or blocks'and the two rear wheels 

